Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Colin Edwards produced a heroic performance at a rain-lashed Silverstone circuit this afternoon, the experienced American mastering atrocious conditions during the Airasia British Grand Prix to finish in a deserved third position.

Just nine days after breaking his right collarbone in seven places at the Catalunya round, Edwards showed outstanding skill and bravery today to claim his first MotoGP rostrum since he was second in the 2009 British Grand Prix at Donington Park.

With large patches of standing water littering the circuit and heavy rain falling throughout, Edwards quickly got to grips with the treacherous conditions and he needed only five laps to pass compatriot Ben Spies to move into fifth. Edwards maintained a fast and consistent pace, and while other riders were being caught out by the tricky conditions, the 37-year-old called on his vast experience to keep his composure and concentration to secure his 12th MotoGP podium.

British rider Cal Crutchlow spent a comfortable night in the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after he suffered a broken left collarbone in a high-speed crash at the start of yesterday’s qualifying session.

Crutchlow’s collarbone, which is broken in three places, will require surgery, but no decision has been taken on whether he will remain in Oxford or be transferred to Manchester to see a specialist who has treated the 25-year-old for a previous shoulder injury. Crutchlow is also being assessed for a neck injury and further information on his condition and recovery w ill be made available at the earliest opportunity.

Colin Edwards 3rd – 37 points:

“That was an unbelievable race and to finish on the podium feels amazing. I was happy to qualify eighth but never in a million years did I think I’d be on the podium just over a week after breaking my collarbone. I need to thank Dr Xavier Mir for the repair job he did on my shoulder and also my guys at Monster Yamaha Tech 3 because they gave me a phenomenal bike today. My shoulder felt great and it was the muscle damage around my ribs that caused me the most pain. But the rain definitely helped because it was a lot less physical than in the dry. I just gritted my teeth and got on with it, just trying to stay smooth and not make any mistakes. Conditions were pretty bad and it was a case of working out when and where you could push. I’d have been happy to fin ish the race and then go home to think about Assen. But I saw a few people succumbing to the conditions and I saw P3 on by board and I couldn’t believe it. At that time though there were still eight or nine laps to go and I couldn’t feel my hands or my feet because it was so wet and cold. It was difficult but it was a good way to the end the weekend for the Team after what happened to Cal. Nobody wants to get hurt, but being injured for your home race is really tough to take, so I wish him a quick recovery and hope to see him back in Assen.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager:

“Colin was absolutely amazing. Nobody would have bet any money on him to be on the podium just one week after having an operation on his broken collarbone. But Colin has been a hero and this is a memorable day for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team. It was a bad day yesterday when we saw Cal crashing and he was forced to miss his home race. But Colin helped put the smile back on the faces of everyone inside the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team with a brilliant ride. And not only was he fast but he was very brave too. He was robbed of a podium finish in Jerez in similar conditions a few weeks ago and I have to give him a lot of respect because it would have been easy just to go home to rest after his injury in Catalunya. He rode for the Team more than anything and it shows how much he is still enjoying racing and how motivated he is. He has been in a lot of pain but he’s never complained and he treated the weekend like a normal weekend and his ride was the best of the day in MotoGP. He didn’t make a mistake like some of the others so we are overjoyed. We can’t be completely happy because of what happened to Cal and it was a big pity he couldn’t race, but he is a fighter and we’ll see him back stronger than ever soon. I know how much he wanted to ride in front of his home crowd, bu t he has seen what Colin has achieved so quickly after his collarbone injury, so hopefully this will be a good inspiration for him.”